David Ferguson, '77, pledges $1.5 million to fund scholarships for students who demonstrate financial need

March 5, 2014 | By Nick Alexopulos

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Loyola University Maryland has received a $1.5 million pledge from David Ferguson, ’77, and his wife, Kathy, to create an endowed scholarship for Loyola students who demonstrate financial need.

The Duard L. and Mary L. Ferguson Scholarship Fund is named in honor of Ferguson’s late parents, who sacrificed a great deal to send him to Loyola.

“Our gift is a great way to recognize my parents, and it’s the beginning of something incredibly valuable to students over the coming decades,” said Ferguson. “We feel this scholarship will be especially pertinent as we think about educating the whole person, and about making Jesuit education specifically available to students who may not have that opportunity otherwise.”

Ferguson grew up and went to high school outside of Baltimore in Glen Burnie, Md., before attending Loyola and the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he met Kathy. His career in private equity spans nearly three decades, including 15 years as a partner at JPMorgan Chase and 10 years at Weston Presidio. He currently works at Perella Weinberg Partners, an independent advisory and asset management firm in Manhattan, where he co-founded the private equity effort in 2012, and he serves on Loyola’s Board of Trustees.

This gift builds on and changes the focus of an existing endowed scholarship fund Ferguson created at Loyola after his father passed away. For 20 years, the Duard L. Ferguson fund has benefited dozens of students with special physical needs. The new fund will support exceptional students who demonstrate financial hardship.

“As a Jesuit university, Loyola is particularly concerned with ensuring that our education is affordable and accessible for our students,” said Rev. Brian F. Linnane, S.J., president. “This gift from David and Kathy Ferguson makes a profound difference for students—and their families—who recognize the value of a Loyola education, but need extra support to make it possible.”